The price on the shelf is not the only way that companies can charge you more. “Shrinkflation” is the sneaky, deceptive practice of reducing the size or the quantity of a product while keeping the price the same. Manufacturers do this to pass their rising costs on to you. They hope you will not notice the change in the net weight. In 2024 and 2025, consumer watchdog groups have caught several major brands quietly shrinking their popular products.
Why Shrinkflation Is a Deceptive Practice
Shrinkflation is a company’s response to rising costs for ingredients, labor, and transportation. They have two choices: raise the sticker price or shrink the product. Companies know that shoppers are “price-sensitive.” We will immediately notice if a box of cereal suddenly costs a dollar more. However, we are not “weight-sensitive.” We are far less likely to notice if that same box now contains 2.5 ounces less. This tactic is legal, as long as the net weight on the label is accurate. It is, however, a deceptive practice that breaks customer trust.
The Cereal Aisle: A Major Offender
The cereal aisle is one of the easiest places to spot this trend. Cereal boxes are tall and thin. This design makes it easy for a manufacturer to slightly reduce the depth of the box without you noticing. Consumer advocacy group MousePrint.org recently caught several examples. The “Family Size” box of General Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios was reduced from 20.3 ounces to 18.6 ounces. This is an 8% reduction. The “Family Size” box of Cocoa Puffs also shrank from 19.3 ounces to 18.1 ounces.
Snacks and Chips: Getting Less Bang for Your Buck
Snack foods are another category that is full of shrinkflation. Frito-Lay is a common offender. The company often uses the “slack fill,” or the air in the bag, to hide a reduction in product. A “party size” bag of Tostitos Scoops, for example, was recently downsized from 15.5 ounces to 14.5 ounces. This is a 6% loss. The bag itself looks just as big and full of air as it did before. This makes the change almost impossible to spot without reading the fine print.
From the Cooler: Drinks and Dairy
Even your drinks are not safe. Take the Gatorade bottle, for instance. In 2022, the classic 32-ounce bottle was replaced in many stores by a new, 28-ounce version. The new bottle has a sleeker, more “ergonomic” shape. This is a marketing spin to distract from the 12.5% reduction in the amount of product you get. Coffee and yogurt have also been victims. The standard coffee can has shrunk from 16 ounces down to as little as 10 or 11 ounces over the years.
Household Goods: It’s Not Just Food
Shrinkflation extends beyond the pantry. It is also in your bathroom and your laundry room. Personal care items are a frequent target. For example, Dove’s large pump bottle of body wash was reduced in size a few years back, and now people are noticing thier bar sizes decreasing. These small, subtle changes can add up to a significant hidden price increase on your essential household goods.
How to Spot and Fight Back Against Shrinkflation
The only way to fight shrinkflation is to become a vigilant shopper. You must ignore the marketing claims and the size of the box. You have to train yourself to look at the two numbers that matter: the net weight and the unit price. The unit price, which is printed on the shelf tag, is the true measure of value. It tells you the price per ounce or per pound. By comparing the unit price, you can see if the “family size” is really a better deal. This is the only way to make an informed decision.
The Deceptive Package
Shrinkflation is a deceptive business practice. It is designed to trick you into paying more for less. The manufacturers are betting that you will not read the fine print on the package. The only way to fight back is to become a vigilant shopper. You must ignore the size of the box. You must focus on the unit price and the net weight. These are the only numbers that tell the real story.
What is the worst example of shrinkflation you have seen in the stores this year? Let us know in the comments!
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The post Grocery Products That Quietly Shrunk in Size This Year appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
